Lucy, Saint, also called Santa Lucia, was an early Christian martyr from Syracuse, on the Mediterranean island of Sicily. Martyrs are people who willingly suffer, and sometimes die, for their beliefs. Lucy’s name is related to the Italian word luce and the Latin word lux, both meaning light. Lucy is the patron saint of eyes—that is, she is considered a special guardian of people with eye problems.
Little is known about Lucy’s life. The earliest surviving references to her come from Syracuse. She is believed to have died there in A.D. 303 or 304. At that time, Sicily was a province of the Roman Empire. The Romans traditionally were pagans who worshiped many gods, and the Roman government sometimes persecuted Christians. According to legend, Lucy’s mother arranged for her to marry a young pagan. But Lucy wanted to remain a virgin and dedicate her life to Christianity. A visit to a Christian shrine cured Lucy’s mother of an illness. Lucy’s mother then allowed Lucy to cancel her engagement and give her dowry to the poor. A dowry is money or property that a woman brings to her marriage. In anger, Lucy’s rejected fiancé exposed her as a Christian to the governor of Sicily. She was arrested, tortured, and executed.
Some later versions of the legend say that Lucy lost her eyes but miraculously was given new, more beautiful eyes. In artwork, Lucy often appears holding a pair of eyes on a plate. She also is shown frequently with a candle or lantern and a palm branch. The palm branch symbolizes martyrdom.
St. Lucy’s feast day—December 13—is celebrated widely in Italy and other parts of Europe. The most colorful and popular celebrations occur in Sweden. There, the day is called Luciadagen (Lucia Day), and it marks the start of the Christmas season. Families, schools, and whole towns celebrate Luciadagen with special activities, costumes, and foods. Traditionally, it was common for a daughter of each family to play Lucy at home. She dressed in a long, white robe and a crown of green leaves and lighted candles. She served members of her family coffee and special pastries called Lussekatter. Today, public processions in schools and towns are more common. One girl is chosen to wear a crown of candles. Many others accompany her, dressed in white and carrying candles as they give pastries or cookies to the crowd.
Most historians think Luciadagen has roots in pagan festivals and legends that predate Christianity. December 13 is close to the winter solstice, the shortest day of the year. Many ancient cultures marked the solstice with bonfires or candles, greenery, presents, and special foods. They were celebrating the rebirth of the sun after the cold, dark nights of midwinter. One pre-Christian legend tells of a maiden in a white robe and with a halo of light around her head who brought food to starving villagers in western Sweden.
